Tom Veneziano's Tennis Warrior articles are archived onto the Web six months after they are first published in our free email newsletter, Tennis Server INTERACTIVE. You can receive Tom's most recent columns by subscribing to Tennis Server INTERACTIVE using the subscription box in the left side column of this page.

I'm the "better player," but my opponent wins!

Tom Veneziano

The bottom line in tennis is the player who hits one more ball back than his (or her) opponent wins the point. This is a simple plan that causes much confusion and misapplication among tennis players. In fact, this principle is so simple it eludes most players. Zealous players think you must do something dynamic to be the victor! But zeal without thought is futile.

I know that this simple plan (more balls back, more points) is misunderstood when I hear players whine, "He was not the better player, I just beat myself." Hello! I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but that means he IS the better player! Better players make other players beat themselves. Why? Think about it -- the better player hits more balls over the net. If his opponent has opportunities to win points but fails, that does not mean his opponent is a better player.

In other words you think IF you would have just capitalized on the opportunities you would have been victorious. Therefore, you're really the better player. "If" means that you have only the "potential" for capitalizing on your opportunities. Here's more bad news! You DID NOT capitalize on these opportunities, therefore you are NOT the better player.Ê

Now hear this! You may have the potential to be the better player, but until you can make the last shot consistently, your opponent will bring home the trophy.Ê

Again, the bottom line... the player who hits one more ball back than his or her opponent wins the point! Just ask Roger Federer!

If you have not already signed up to receive our free e-mail
newsletter Tennis Server INTERACTIVE, you can sign up here.
You will receive notification each month of changes at the Tennis
Server and news of new columns posted on our site.

Tom is a tennis pro teaching
at the Piney Point Racquet Club in Houston, Texas. Tom
has taught thousands of players to think like a pro with
his Tennis Warrior System.

In Tom Veneziano's book "The Truth about Winning!", tennis players
learn in a step-by-step fashion the thinking the pros have
mastered to win! Tom takes you Step-by-step from basic mental
toughness to advanced mental toughness. All skill levels can learn
from this unique book from beginner to professional. No need to
change your strokes just your thinking.

"Tennis Server" is a registered trademark
and "Tennis Server INTERACTIVE" is a trademark of Tennis Server. All
original material and graphics on the Tennis Server are copyrighted
1994 - by Tennis Server and its sponsors and contributors.
Please do not reproduce without permission.